Official: Welcome to the country. Any specific reason for your visit?
Sonya: A honeymoon.
Official: Honeymoon. Right. Where are you from?
Sonya: The UK.
The official hands back the documents: Enjoy your trip. Next!
Relief as they move on to collect their luggage from the carousel. Then they get some duty free alcohol (to look authentic, of course), get a taxi and then off to their hotel. They book into the honeymoon suite, the lady at the front desk is all smiles. Then to their room.
The suite is spacious enough, with a large bed and a lovely view over a delightful harbour. They unpack and flop on the bed. Alf then gets up and pours a single malt whisky for each of them.
Alf: Well, here we are on our honeymoon darling, said with a cheeky smile. Sonya doesn't smile, her face is neutral, determined to keep things professional. In case the room's bugged, they don't talk shop in the room. She takes a sip of her drink.
Sonja: We have a couple of days here in the city. Perhaps we could check out the cathedral and then the view from the vantage point overlooking the city. Then maybe lunch at a small cafe, finished with a walk along the promenade and dinner at one of the restaurants that line it.
Alf: Sounds like a plan.
They sleep soundly and go on their tourist route, holding hands and smiling at each other occasionally. As they walk up to the viewing vantage point, Alf wonders if they are being tailed. They kiss for authenticity's sake, and then they look over the harbour and out to sea. They then go back to the promenade and have a nice meal together, before returning to their hotel.
The next day, they walk to the promenade, where they feel safe to talk.
Alf speaks softly: We'll get the hire car arranged, pick it up tomorrow, and head down the coast. We will meet our contact and pick up the gear we will need. Then we move further south, where our mission begins in earnest.
Sonja nods, her eyes scanning the crowd for suspicious looks from anyone, her voice a low whisper: Good. The rental agency is a repair garage, so the car should be an older model. We don't want to stand out once we are on the road.
Alf: Sounds like a plan.
They sleep soundly and go on their tourist route, holding hands and smiling at each other occasionally. As they walk up to the viewing vantage point, Alf wonders if they are being tailed. They kiss for authenticity's sake, and then they look over the harbour and out to sea. They then go back to the promenade and have a nice meal together, before returning to their hotel.
The next day, they walk to the promenade, where they feel safe to talk.
Alf speaks softly: We'll get the hire car arranged, pick it up tomorrow, and head down the coast. We will meet our contact and pick up the gear we will need. Then we move further south, where our mission begins in earnest.
Sonja nods, her eyes scanning the crowd for suspicious looks from anyone, her voice a low whisper: Good. The rental agency is a repair garage, so the car should be an older model. We don't want to stand out once we are on the road.
They go to a small garage and book a car for a few days. Then off to buy some food items for tomorrow and back to their hotel suite for their last night there. The whisky comes in handy for a dram or two.
Sonja: Our last taste of comfort for a while. Let's make the most of it.
The next day, they drive south and arrive about midday at a small coastal village. They have a picnic packed to avoid unnecessary interaction with locals. They sit by the water's edge, feet dangling in the warm seawater as they eat.
Two policemen approach: Good day. Everything alright here?
Sonya smiles warmly, leaning into Alf: Everything's wonderful, officers. Just enjoying the view.
Policeman: Lovely day for it. Just be careful of the current if you choose to swim. It's quite strong today. Enjoy your trip.
The police walk away. Alf looks at Sonya and whispers: As soon as they're gone, we can meet our contact.
They go to a small shop that is selling souvenirs, having a code to identify themselves.Sonya walks up to the shopkeeper: The weather is quite unpredictable for this time of year.
Sonya smiles warmly, leaning into Alf: Everything's wonderful, officers. Just enjoying the view.
Policeman: Lovely day for it. Just be careful of the current if you choose to swim. It's quite strong today. Enjoy your trip.
The police walk away. Alf looks at Sonya and whispers: As soon as they're gone, we can meet our contact.
They go to a small shop that is selling souvenirs, having a code to identify themselves.Sonya walks up to the shopkeeper: The weather is quite unpredictable for this time of year.
The shopkeeper looks at her and then at Alf. He gives a small nod and leads them to the house at the rear.
Shopkeeper: Here is the gear you require. He hands over two bags, one soft and the other sturdier.
Shopkeeper: Here is the gear you require. He hands over two bags, one soft and the other sturdier.
They head back to the car. There is a map in a side pocket of the bag, informing them where they can leave the car in a safe hiding place. Now they are ready for the mission.
They drive further south for an hour and stop at a junction. They wait for a few minutes and no one passes. Feeling safe, they turn off the main road and head inland until they see a track leading to an old farm shed as marked on the map. Opening the shed door, they park the car inside.
They open the soft bag and take out black clothing, which they put on after stripping off their tourist clothes. They carefully check the sturdier bag containing small bombs with magnets and zip up the bag. Alf carries the explosives while Sonja the soft bag that contains cutting gear, map, compass, compact binoculars as well as water and high energy food bars. They each have a small but powerful torch supplied.
They peer outside and, seeing no one, they head inland toward the airbase. They reach their destintion by dusk, making good speed to do so, and then look over it from a concealed vantage point.
They drive further south for an hour and stop at a junction. They wait for a few minutes and no one passes. Feeling safe, they turn off the main road and head inland until they see a track leading to an old farm shed as marked on the map. Opening the shed door, they park the car inside.
They open the soft bag and take out black clothing, which they put on after stripping off their tourist clothes. They carefully check the sturdier bag containing small bombs with magnets and zip up the bag. Alf carries the explosives while Sonja the soft bag that contains cutting gear, map, compass, compact binoculars as well as water and high energy food bars. They each have a small but powerful torch supplied.
They peer outside and, seeing no one, they head inland toward the airbase. They reach their destintion by dusk, making good speed to do so, and then look over it from a concealed vantage point.
Sonya lowers her binoculars, her expression a mask of calculated precision as she surveys the perimeter fences: Luckily, security here isn't as it should be. Our intel is always on point, so hopefully there will be no glitches. They wait until dark and then make their move.
They cut the fence at the south corner of the perimeter, unseen by the guards who have their view slightly obscured. The next objective is to get to a ditch, requiring them to be exposed for 20 metres.
They cut the fence at the south corner of the perimeter, unseen by the guards who have their view slightly obscured. The next objective is to get to a ditch, requiring them to be exposed for 20 metres.
Picking their time, they see guards in a tower, conversing and having a smoke. They move stealthily to the ditch and then keeping low, crawl on their stomachs along the ditch until they reach the hangar.
Alf whispers: The side door will have its trip alarm deactivated, thanks to our accomplice inside. Hopefully, he managed to do that, or we are in trouble.
Sonja nods to Alf, signaling to proceed.
Alf whispers: The side door will have its trip alarm deactivated, thanks to our accomplice inside. Hopefully, he managed to do that, or we are in trouble.
Sonja nods to Alf, signaling to proceed.
Alf gets up, now out of view, and gingerly picks the door lock and pulls down on the door handle. It opens and the alarm doesn't activate. He wipes his forehead with his hand to remove sweat beads and Sonja follows him in.
They approach the row of fighter jets, supposedly securely stored in the hangar.
Alf unzips the back pack and hands the magnetic bombs to Sonja, who carefully places one in each of the plane's wheel wells. It's a bit greasy and she gets some on her hands.
Once completed, Sonja turns to Alf, whispering: Now let's get out of here.
Just then, a guard patrol arrives. They hide behind a stack of crates and wait for the guards to pass. The guards barely bother to check anything before leaving.
Alf whispers: Close call, but we're clear.
They retrace their steps, leaving the airbase behind them. Moving with urgency, they reach the car and quickly add a layer of black clothing as the boat ride will be chilly. They get in and drive further south to an isolated bay for a rendezvous with a boat.
It's still dark on arrival, but they can't see a waiting boat. Anxiety increases.
Sonja frowns: Where is the boat? Our contact said 0400.
Alf checks his watch, then the empty shoreline, a sense of unease settling in his gut: They must have been delayed?
Sonja frowns: Where is the boat? Our contact said 0400.
Alf checks his watch, then the empty shoreline, a sense of unease settling in his gut: They must have been delayed?
Suddenly, a car pulls up behind them. The occupants are a security patrol from the airbase. doing a routine sweep of the coast that is close to their airbase. Two armed men alight, their guns still in their holsters but ready for use. Torches are shone at them.
Security Man 1: What is your business here at this time of the morning?
Sonja thinks quickly: We are on our honeymoon and just wanted to see the sunrise.
Security Man 2 points a torch at Sonya's hand and sees a smudge of grease from the plane's wheel well: And the grease on your hands?
Sonja's mind is racing for a believable answer: I'm good with mechanics and I was tinkering with the engine a bit earlier. It's quite an old model car and needed some adjustments, which I managed to do. The beauty of older cars. not too complicated.
Security Man 1: What is your business here at this time of the morning?
Sonja thinks quickly: We are on our honeymoon and just wanted to see the sunrise.
Security Man 2 points a torch at Sonya's hand and sees a smudge of grease from the plane's wheel well: And the grease on your hands?
Sonja's mind is racing for a believable answer: I'm good with mechanics and I was tinkering with the engine a bit earlier. It's quite an old model car and needed some adjustments, which I managed to do. The beauty of older cars. not too complicated.
Security man 1 decides they are some weird tourists: Very well, enjoy the sunrise.
Sonja breathes out a sigh of relief as the car drives away, her heart pounding in her chest: That was too close for comfort.
Agent: How did it go?
Alf: All good. The timers are set to go off any time now.
Agent: Our assisting Valeria to snuff out the air threat from their hostile neighbour to the north is vital for security in the region.
Alf: I just wish they could sort out their differences via dialogue. I guess centuries of conflict are hard to put behind them. There is always a score to settle.
Alf: All good. The timers are set to go off any time now.
Agent: Our assisting Valeria to snuff out the air threat from their hostile neighbour to the north is vital for security in the region.
Alf: I just wish they could sort out their differences via dialogue. I guess centuries of conflict are hard to put behind them. There is always a score to settle.
Agent: Well done, follow me.
They walk to a small house by the sea. Once inside the house, they are given food and water and told to wait for further instructions. Their job was a success as the bombs exploded precisely at 0500. The news was not reported in the media, but confirmed by their man working covertly at the airbase.
Alf looks at Sonya, the adrenaline finally fading, replaced by a deep exhaustion: We did it, and got out.
Sonja finally smiles, a small, genuine expression of relief, as she leans her head on his shoulder: Yes, we did.
Sonja finally smiles, a small, genuine expression of relief, as she leans her head on his shoulder: Yes, we did.
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